Elena and Bradley’s wedding combined two iconic Washington, DC venues into one timeless celebration: Union Station and the Mayflower Hotel. The day’s events began with a ceremony at Union Station in the Presidential Suite before transitioning into a candlelit reception in the Grand Ballroom at the Mayflower Hotel. Once a private space in which presidents could await their travel and welcome foreign dignitaries, the Presidential Suite at Union Station is now a space available for private events.
The floral palette centered around whites and pale blues accented with soft sage and eucalyptus greenery. White garden roses, lisianthus, stock, hydrangea, ivory spray roses, tweedia, and light blue delphinium created arrangements that felt lush and elegant while still maintaining a clean, understated softness. Elena carried a classic, hand-tied bouquet layered with white garden roses, white roses, lisianthus, ivory spray roses, white astilbe, pale blue delphinium, and delicate tweedia finished with camellia foliage. The combination of airy blue accents against classic white flowers gave the bouquet a lightness that worked beautifully with the overall design direction of the wedding.
The traditional Jewish ceremony took place beneath a draped chuppah finished with asymmetrical floral accents in white and pale blue, surrounded by the elegant marble and woodwork of the Presidential Suite. White organza fabric softened the structure while flowers clustered organically along the top corners created movement without overwhelming the ceremony space. White hydrangea, roses, stock, lisianthus, delphinium, and eucalyptus foliage tied the installation seamlessly into the rest of the day’s floral palette. Lush aisle arrangements in whites and blues framed the entrance to the ceremony beautifully, adding fullness and softness to the room while still allowing the architecture of Union Station to remain central to the experience.
Following the ceremony, guests moved to the Mayflower Hotel for cocktails in the State Room and a reception in the Grand Ballroom, with the wedding party choosing to make their way by metro, in homage to their own commutes! We love this personal addition to the day.
One of the things that works especially well about a Mayflower Hotel wedding is the venue’s ability to support classic wedding design so naturally. The scale and architecture of the ballroom already feel grand, allowing flowers and candlelight to enhance the atmosphere rather than needing to completely transform it. Smaller floral details carried the design story throughout the evening. Bud vase arrangements softened the cocktail tables, eucalyptus foliage framed the welcome display, and delicate cake flowers added a final floral moment to the reception design.
For the reception, tall centerpieces brought height and elegance into the ballroom using white hydrangea, stock, roses, spray roses, and pale blue delphinium arranged atop pilsner vases with eucalyptus and lemon leaf foliage. The remaining guest tables featured lower arrangements of white and pale blue hydrangea in classic compote bowls, creating a balance between taller statement pieces and more intimate table designs throughout the room.
One especially striking reception detail was the continuous hedge of airy baby’s breath installed along the front of the band. The design added softness and texture to the entertainment space while helping the band integrate naturally into the overall room design.
Elena and Bradley’s wedding was such a beautiful example of how classic white wedding flowers can still feel fresh and distinctive through thoughtful layering of texture, soft color, and elegant architectural settings. From the ceremony at Union Station to the candlelit ballroom reception at the Mayflower Hotel and even the metro commute, every part of the day felt timeless, welcoming, and unmistakably Washington, DC.
Ceremony: Union Station (Presidential Room)
Reception: Mayflower Hotel (Grand Ballroom)
Photography: Stephen Bobb
Florist: Petal’s Edge Floral Design
Coordinator: Events Extraordinaire
